Hutchinson CC Sports Information
GREAT BEND – The Barton Cougars converted a direct free kick from about 30 yards out with a little less than 20 minutes remaining in the second half and spoiled the Hutchinson Community College women's soccer team's Jayhawk West debut on Wednesday.
Barton defeated the Blue Dragons 2-1 on a hot, blustery day at the Cougar Soccer Complex. This was Hutchinson's first action in 12 days and Barton's first game in 11 days.
The Blue Dragons fell to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the Jayhawk West. Barton improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in league play. Hutchinson will play host to Johnson County at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the 2021 home opener at the Salthawk Sports Complex.
The Blue Dragons had a hard time getting its offense going against the Cougars. At one point in the first half, the Dragons were being out-shot 7-0. Barton ultimately out-shot the Blue Dragons 16-5 and Hutchinson produced only one corner kick.
Freshman forward Hadlie Lowe scored the Blue Dragons' only goal on a great individual effort late in the first half.
Defender Dayza Hollimon played a long pass down the middle that was initially too long for Lowe on the Barton Complex artificial turf. Lowe continued to sprint downfield and stole the ball away from a Barton defender. Lowe then battled with Barton keeper Nia Baker for possession. After deflecting the ball away from Baker, Lowe made a 360-degree spin to the ball and rolled a shot into the unprotected net to tie the game at 1-1 with 7:23 remaining in the first half.
The goal was Lowe's second of the season.
Going against a strong south wind in the second half, the Blue Dragons good possession in the early minutes the produced their only corner kick of the game. Lexi Jack's long direct free kick from about 35 yards out with 20:12 to play in the second half was Hutchinson's only shot attempt of the second half.
Blue Dragon freshman goalkeeper Olivia Felix-Cardona had six saves in the game, but yielded her first two goals of the season. Felix-Cardona made four spectacular saves on point-blank Barton shots.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead with 16:31 to play in the first half on an unassisted goal by Annika Gerdau, her sixth goal of the season.
Barton scored the eventual game winner with 28:50 remaining in the second half. After a Blue Dragon foul in their defensive end gave the Cougars a direct free kick straight out from 30 yards, Cougar Seulgi Lee drilled a line drive just under the cross bar for the go-ahead goal.
Baker was credited with one save for the Cougars.